Chris Hemsworth's Ultimate Australian Coastal Holiday

Chris Hemsworth's ultimate summer holiday in Australia is getting off the grid to some of our best beaches. From Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast to Margaret River in Western Australia, Chris Hemsworth's ultimate holiday beaches are worth adding to your itinerary.

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Chris Hemsworth's Ultimate Australian Coastal Holiday

Chris Hemsworth's ultimate summer holiday in Australia is getting off the grid to some of our best beaches.

Taking a 4WD and exploring the coastline – surfing and fishing along the way. As Hemsworth himself says, "Australia has some of the most diverse, vibrant and pristine coastlines in the world," not to mention some of the best surf breaks. From Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast to Margaret River in Western Australia, Chris Hemsworth's ultimate holiday beaches are worth adding to your itinerary.

"I'd take a 4x4, fill it with food, fishing rods, diving gear, a tent and surfboards and take off exploring. I'm always looking for new places to experience. There's something about being off the grid and disconnected from the world and living amongst the elements that is incredibly refreshing. I prefer to not have a huge plan and just take it as it comes. The surf breaks [in Australia] are some of the best in the world, from Tallow in Byron and Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast to Bells Beach in Victoria near where I grew up, over to Margaret River in Western Australia." - Chris Hemsworth

Tallow Beach, Byron Bay

Tallow beach is just 3.2 kilometres (1.9 miles) from the heart of Byron Bay, nestled between Cape Byron State Conservation Area and Broken Head Nature Reserve. In the right conditions, it offers a great surf break and is great for swimming. You can cast a fishing line straight from the beach, or simply throw down a towel and soak up the sun.

If you head to the beach in the afternoon during spring or winter, you're likely to see a whale or two as they migrate between the Great Barrier Reef and Antarctica. Take a long walk along the straight expanse of the beach and watch as the white-bellied sea eagles scour the coast in search of food.

Experience: Stay at Tallow Beach campground in the Bouddi National Park and get the full experience that this part of Australia's coast has to offer. The campground is near Killcare on the Central Coast, and you’ll find swimming, surfing and fishing spots, along with walking tracks like the Aboriginal Heritage walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. It's worth noting that Tallow beach campground is a popular spot and reservations can be made within 12 months of your arrival.

Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast

The home of the Quicksilver pro surfing tour, Snapper Rocks is considered one of the Gold Coast's most popular surf beaches. It's part of the coast's southern beaches – all very popular as an alternative to busy Surfers Paradise. From the northern corner of Coolangatta beach, the headland around Greenmont, Snapper Rocks and into the Southern corner of Rainbow Bay and Duranbah, this stretch of coast offers surfers a clean wave with arguably the best barrels on the Gold Coast. Snapper Rocks is the starting point for the Super bank, a man-made surf break, allowing surfers to catch a wave all the way through to Coolangatta. Before you jump in to catch a wave, fine tune your surfing skills or have your very first lesson at the Gold Coast Learn to Surf Centre in Rainbow bay – adjacent to Snapper Rocks.

Experience: If surfing isn't your thing, there are plenty of other amazing activities to do on the southern beaches – like visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, you can cuddle a koala, feed a kangaroo or get active and test your physical ability on the Adventure Parc High Ropes Course, an exhilarating 80 challenge tree-tops ropes course.

Bells Beach, Victoria

Whether you're in the water or out of the water, Bells Beach (located near Torquay) is an impressive spot. Set to the dramatic backdrop of a sheer cliff-face, the beach is very popular amoung surfers who ride waves around the area from Southside to Steps Reef. The waves are best during autumn and winter, and if you're there around Easter, Bells Beach hosts the international professional surfing community for the Rip Curl Pro event.

The trip to Bells Beach is enough in itself – a scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road past Jan Juc – turn left into Bells Boulevard and follow the signs, and the view from the bluff is incredible... you don't even need to set foot on the beach to appreciate why it's so well-loved.

Experience: If cruising along the great ocean road in a mustang convertible sounds like a dream, then the Mustang & Co Surfcoast Tour is well worth a go. While enjoying the thrill of driving along the coastal road with the top down on a 1966 Mustang Convertible, you'll visit Bells Beach as well as Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, and Wye River. You can look for koalas, kangaroos and enjoy fish and chips on the beach as you watch the local surfers catching the waves.

Margaret River, Western Australia

The Margaret River region is the perfect all-encompassing destination. With an abundance of beaches, all surrounded by Margaret River's famous vineyards, there is something for everyone. The north – Busselton and Dunsborough – offer amazing secluded beaches like Meelup and Eagle Bay, that are perfect for swimming. Choose from secluded sheltered coves to long shallow beaches with fine white sand. To get there, take the picturesque tourist drive or take the regional park walking track.

The west coast is well known for its surf, but also offers great designated swimming beaches. Yallingup, Rabbit Hill and Yallingup Main Break are the perfect spots for avid surfers.

Experience: After exploring the beaches Margaret River has to offer, spend a day touring the regions' other area of expertise: wine. Take a wine tour and be chauffered through the vineyards, tasting the best wine Western Australia has to offer.

Discover white beaches, coral reefs, salty fishing towns and rugged national parks on this spectacular journey along Western Australia’s Coral Coast. Head north to taste fresh crayfish in Geraldton and mouth-watering tropical fruits in Carnarvon. Swim with the huge whale shark on Ningaloo Reef and four wheel drive through the canyons of nearby Cape Range National Park. On your way back down the coast, meet the dolphins of Monkey Mia, along with whales, manta rays, turtles, sharks, dugongs and fish in the wider Shark Bay World Heritage Area. See seasonal wildflowers break out their brightest colours all along the coast, from Cape Range to the cliffs and gorges of Kalbarri National Park.

Capture some of Queensland's biggest coastal attractions- from the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef to the pristine islands and rainforest national parks. Four wheel drive Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island and see manta rays and turtles at Mon Repos, near Bundaberg. Stay in Rockhampton and visit Great Keppel Island and the Capricorn Caves. Snorkel or dive reefs and shipwrecks near Mackay and go sailing in the postcard-perfect Whitsundays. Walk the white sand of Magnetic Island, near Townsville and further north visit Hinchinbrook, Australia's largest island national park. The vivid colours, smells and sounds of this splendid coastline will stay with you long after your journey ends in Cairns, at the gateway to Queensland's tropical north.

Soak up Hobart's convict history before heading to Freycinet National Park and the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay. Swim in St Helens and do the Bay of Fires Walk in Mount William National Park. Look over Launceston from Cataract Gorge and cycle along Devonport's waterfront. Soothe your soul in the World Heritage-listed wilderness of Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park. Stay in Strahan and cruise the Gordon River or white water raft the furious Franklin. Walk from waterfalls and fern forests to ski fields in Mount Field National Park. From the tranquil beaches of Tasmania's east to the rugged mountains flanking the west, this circle will leave you spellbound.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tasmania’s east coast on this attraction-packed drive. Sea kayak and hunt down history on Maria Island, sample farm-fresh berries and wine near Swansea and take in the perfect contours of Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park. Stop in Bicheno, where you can cling to the coastline on a motorised trike ride or see fairy penguins waddle home at dusk. Bushwalk in the rainforest of Douglas-Apsley National Park and game fish or dive from the picturesque port of St Helens Park. Swim in the calm, clear waters of Binnalong Bay and follow the Bay of Fires walk past Aboriginal middens, woodlands and powder-white beaches. Finish your journey in a remote eco-lodge with soul-stirring ocean views.

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